CHANCE BROUGHT THEM TOGETHER LOVE MADE THEM A FOREVER FAMILY!

Barry Abernathy was born with only a thumb and part of his index finger on his left hand. Still, he'd become a Grammy-nominated musician. At 50, he had success, a loving wife and two grown daughters...it was time to sit back and enjoy the fruits of their labor. But God had other plans...

- DEBORAH EVANS PRICE

Daddy, there’s a little boy in my class that has a hand just like yours!” Barry Abernathy’s 18-year-old daughter, Chassady, said one day in 2019.

Like Barry, the then-4-year-old named Tyler had been born with just a thumb and part of his index finger on his left hand.

Chassady often talked about the kids at the daycare where she worked. But there was something in her voice, and when she mentioned that Tyler and his sister, Zoey, then 6, were in foster care…

“You’ve brought dogs and cats, even goats, home…don’t talk about bringing in kids now,” Barry quipped with a laugh. But weeks later, Barry felt an undeniable pull to meet Tyler. As Barry approached him, Tyler noticed his hand. “Are you my dad?” Tyler asked. As Barry fumbled for an answer, Tyler bubbled, “You are my dad!”

An unexpected path

As he drove away, Barry found himself in tears as he felt called to adopt Tyler and Zoey. I’m 50 years old, God, I’m happy with my life as it is, Barry prayed.